.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Today was a day that was almost all about my rig. After all, that’s why I’m in Scott, Louisiana. Shortly after 8:00, the tap on the door let me know that it was time to pack up and move the rig to Southern Tire Mart to get six new tires for the motorhome. Billy, the owner of Thibodeaux’s Premiere RV, had said he would drive the rig there as I followed in the car. He wanted to take a test drive to check out the fixing he had done yesterday to the MCD shades. I was all for that as driving the rig isn’t my favorite thing to do; especially in city traffic.

We dropped the rig off, and I drove Billy back to the repair shop. What to do then? Emma and I were homeless for a while, so I found a place to get the oil changed on the car. I drove right in, and exited less than ten minutes later. Easy peasy!

Since I knew it would take several hours before the rig would be ready to pick up, Emma and I headed for Lake Martin, south of Breaux Bridge. We had been there about two years ago, but it was in January that year.

A blog reader had commented a couple of days ago reminding me that there was a rookery at Lake Martin. Birds weren’t nesting when I lasted visited, but since this time it was April, I decided to give it another try. I’m sure glad I did.

I was simply amazed at the thousands of birds that were nesting along the swampy lands surrounding Lake Martin. There were roseate spoonbills, great egrets, little blue herons, cattle egrets, snowy egrets, and anhinga's that I observed.

I just put the car in first gear and slowly crept along the gravel road as I enjoyed the sights and sounds of this huge rookery. I’ve seen other rookeries before, but this one was simply immense. What a sight!

Emma and I took a nice stroll around the relatively short boardwalk that can be found on the perimeter road. The last time we did this, the cypress didn’t have their needles yet. Lots of warblers were singing, and we flushed several wood ducks. Emma’s nose was working overtime as we made our way. Between the nesting wading birds, the warblers, and the frogs, we had quite the symphony as we walked along.

Then it was time to turn the car around and head back. Of course it took me forever to get back to the highway as I slowly cruised the rookery once again. We saw different sized great egret chicks along the way hoping their parents would have something for them to eat.

The adults that weren’t at the nests were out hunting for tasty morsels.

Eventually, we got a call that the rig was ready, with it’s new shoes, to be picked up. I was happy to find out that the price was a little less than quoted. (Of course, $8 doesn’t seem like much on a $4000 bill.) We stopped at a gas station on the way back to Premiere RV to fill the tank on the rig. Now I won’t have to worry about that when I head out for Minnesota.

It had been a pretty long day, and I was looking forward to getting the rig set up and turning the AC on. Ha! As we arrived back, Billy drove the rig right into a service bay to take care of some of the maintenance items on my list. Up into the air the rig went, and the oil change/engine check and generator service were taken care of. It was a little after 5:00 before I got my home back and could relax. Most things on my list have been taken care of, and now it’s just a matter of waiting for the new MCD shades to arrive.

So, with all of the work that was done on the rig today, and the oil change for the car, it seems the trip to Lake Martin doesn’t belong in this day. It sure was better than sitting in a parking lot waiting all day though…

20 comments:

That is absolutely THE best way to spend waiting time while your RV gets repaired that I have ever heard of. I sat in Winnebago's waiting room. I need to get advice from you on what I should have been seeing in Forest City, Iowa. Great pictures of your day and congrats on getting so many things taken care of there in Louisiana.

Score! You found a little corner of heaven with all those birds in the rookery. Hope your car came out clean with all the birds flying overhead! ;c)

I guess you're relieved to have the new tires. These Class A beasts are wonderful to live in but they sure are expensive in the care a feeding department. At least you don't have a lawn to mow or a driveway to shovel. :cD

What a fine experience, and it only cost you $4000! Of course, you managed to pick up new tires in the bargain, so that makes it all worthwhile. Wish we'd been with you to see and hear all you saw and heard!

I always love your photos... but am still pondering "which one doesn't belong"... but sitting in a McDonalds parking lot with my laptop literally right on my lap... lots of glare and no reading glasses with me sure doesn't help.

I love the bird photos! Especially since I was attacked by a Mocking Bird while walking the fur kids this morning! That bird had me singled out and was determined to grab my hair and sweatshirt and fly off with it. Never did see a nest.

LOVELY!!! What a great place! We have a house on a Lake Martin in AL....had not heard there was one in LA as well. Glad you got to see all those birds. They were beautiful! How much more fun was that than hanging around the repair shop! Safe travels!

It's always great when things get done as they should...That Roseate Spoonbill pic is FABULOUS!! Judy, you have such a wonderfully BIG RIG!! Would you ever consider downsizing to a Class C motorhome???? I have been looking at some online and there are some really nice ones out there...The only reason I ask is that Dennis is now 71, and a fiver is lots of work...A Class C motorhome might be in our future ;-)